strega
Cocked, Locked And Ready To Rock, STREGA Does Not Need Your Permission To Be Awesome
While A-list Tokusatsu programming reigns supreme in its conventions, the last eight years have proven to be slightly more watershed in challenging the norm. Thus, with actor and independent filmmaker Bueno signaling a new beacon for fans keen on something different, the release of Gun Caliber in 2014 proved pivotal for the niche in doing just that – ultimately heeding the call for a new brand of suit-action heroics.
These Facial Expressions In STREGA Are Everything
Director Bueno is poised to present his latest sequel, Strega, to the masses beginning this summer. Building on the success of his 2014 indie toku actioner, Gun Caliber, without fail, fans can expect a newer, sleeker costume with more weaponry and signature tokusatsu action to boot, and to that effect, the added mature subject matter akin to Bueno’s filmic touch.
FIVE-A-DAY COUNTDOWN: Strega, Contracts, The Paper Tigers, The Outlaw Johnny Black, and Johnny Z
Yesterday we reached past the halfway point of our goal in listing 100 movies to keep track of in 2019. As always, here is another list of five:
STREGA: Old Habits And Humpy Villains Die Hard In The Official Red-Band Trailer For Bueno’s Latest
Just shy of a decade since beginning his journey into history-making indie Tokusatsu with cult feature favorite, Gun Caliber, the tide is finally turning for actor, producer and filmmaker Bueno whose long-awaited follow-up, Strega, is now setting the pace with an official trailer as of last week.
STREGA: Bueno’s Sexy Purple Partner Packs A Punch In The Newest Teaser Trailer
Garage Hero
Filmmaker and tokusatsu maverick, Bueno, now brings us slightly closer to the halfway mark before the theatrical cut release of Strega, the sequel to his most recent feature suit action adventure, Gun Caliber. Production is on going with final action sequences gearing up for next month following strategic cutbacks to earlier intended wire stunts due to production constraints while Bueno currently aims to manifest a splashy, action-packed saga fitting for an era that even now seems to graciously welcomes R-rated Marvel film fandom.
Strega is a direct sequel to our first film, Gun Caliber, and is set a few years after the events of that film. The Japanese government decides to even further regulate superheroes AND the overall populace using the Vector Card, a new ID system.
Vector also happens to be a corporation that has been gradually extending its power behind the scenes. Our hero, Soma Kusanagi, is a foul-mouthed ruffian marked as a persona non-grata by not only the government, but also Vector.
However, he’s one of the only people who can equip the “Stray Buckle” which transforms him into the hero Strega. Due to his pariah status, Soma, the former Gun Caliber, is forced to keep his newfound identity of Strega secret from the public eye.
When a mysterious, yet boisterous Vector Card hacker emerges with a sinister plot to turn all of Tokyo into monsters, Soma is partnered up with a new recruit, Sayuri. Tokyo’s fate now depends on the two unlikely heroes rising to their greatest challenge yet.
With a theatrical cut slated for this winter followed by a webseries run in 2019, monthly updates are continually made in the film’s Indiegogo news feed while Bueno and co. move forward to a possible June wrap of principal photography. In the meantime, fans are now being graced with a new teaser introducing AV actress Miori Mai in the role of our foul-mouthed, X-rated hero’s new partner.
Also starring are Ayane Haruna, Fujiwara Sakurako, Oka Hideki, Kimura Keisaku and Hachidori Amita with action sequences coordinated by Taniguchi Hiroyuki. Check it out!
FIVE-A-DAY ROUND-UP IX: Jun, A Prayer Before Dawn, The Haymaker, The Siege, Strega
Robert Samuels (HKSA) made his recent premiere at the Urban Action Showcase & Expo in New York City with the new movie, Jun. Thus, details for a wider release remain pending for the new thriller which centers on characters each with a task to perform in the wake of a young clone’s escape from a mysterious facility. Cheyenne Tang leads a cast that includes Teniece Divya Johnson, David Chen, John DeBlasio, Kage Yami, Patrick Logan Pace, Eric Moran and David Lavallee Jr. with Tresa Man, Stephanie Pham and Angela Jordan also starring.
Currently completed following its extensive development and production is what lies ahead for actor and producer Paul Allica’s latest brainchild, The Siege. A feature-length rework of Robin Hood folklore, the project is well on deck for some results to reveal in 2018 from artistic director Stu Stanton, and action director and Jackie Chan stunt veteran Paul Andreovski. Feel free to check out my previous interview with Allica and stay tuned.
Maverick tokusatsu filmmaker Bueno earned swarms of praise from cult fans for his 2016 independent action sci-fi, Gun Caliber, a suit-action hero delivered resoundingly in the vein of Deadpool and to that effect, the first of its kind for the toku genre. This year he’s looking to do plenty of the same with a sequel designating our hero with a more slick design and even more bullets and bad language to boot for Strega, now with our hero fighting once again to save Tokyo when he learns that Vector Card technology is being used to turn Tokyo into a city of monsters. Bueno is also the arbiter and host of all things toku on the Garage Hero YouTube channel where you can learn more about his projects.
2018 should finally be the year we get to see more of what’s in store with Muay Thai drama, The Haymaker, from Hood River Entertainment and HeroFace Productions. Actor and director Nick Sasso stars and leads the story of a bouncer whose closeness with a transgender performer encourages him to get back in the ring. Nuyorican trans singer and songwriter Nomi Ruiz makes her screen debut among a cast that also enlists D.B. Sweeney, Udo Kier, John Ventimiglia and actress Zoë Bell.
Hood River Entertainment/HeroFace Productions
Joe Cole headlines Jean-Stéphane Sauvaire’s new Billy Moore adaptation, A Prayer Before Dawn. The film presents a look into the life that inspired the previous book which centers on Moore’s harrowing journey behind bars in a Thai prison where he decides to ante up on his boxing through his introduction into Muay Thai. The trailer which aired back in October proved exquisite marking a terrific move for A24. Stay tuned for more on this one.
Check back tomorrow for five more!
Toku Filmmaker Bueno Sets Sights On 'Gun Caliber' Sequel, STREGA
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